Brighton saw us off with another lovely Breakfast in our room but this time we were overlooking the rain clouds, not the sea, you couldn't even tell the sea was there.
We headed off for Bath and made something of a rookie error with the SatNav, wanting to see the South Coastal area (I have never been down here before) rather than the Motorways we chose a route that looked more or less straightforward but fairly direct. We can now claim to have driven through the middle of most towns in the Southern counties. It took forever but we both happily sung along to a CD of "Big Ballads" and then "Mama Mia" - it's amazing how enthusiastically you can sing when you know you can't be heard!
Eventually arrived, still in the pouring rain, in Bath, checked in to our usual (and lovely) B&B (chosen originally for its proximity to Demuths!) and took advantage of the inclement weather by catching up with our VeganMoFO blog (hence the number of posts today).
We had to pop out to the shops but as this is a Vegan only blog I shall spare you my rant about the decline of M&S (this doesn't apply to family members - they still have to hear it) and got back just in time for a quick change and pop round the corner to Demuths.
Before I begin this review I have to be honest - I love all things "Demuths" - the restaurant, the Cookery School, the people I have met over the years on the courses (this is your mention @realgandy ), the Cookery books plus Rachel and her staff (Jo, Helen, Jan, Richard etc.) so any review is going, inevitably, to be heavily biased.
We had booked a table but needn't have done as it was fairly empty (I still always would) and we were left to peruse the menu (a little unnecessary as we had already downloaded it from the internet!).
For starters Kate had Summer Squash with pickled carrots, buckwheat, toasted sunflower seeds, leaves & herbs whilst I had Orange-Glazed Turnip with pak choi, shimeji mushrooms & tamari seeds. I would never had put the humble turnip (rutagabga for anyone not in the UK) as the most flavoursome vegetable but here is where Richard Buckley (Head Chef) or Jaek his Assistant are so clever, they almost take the turnip (or other vegetable) as a blank canvas and infuse the most delicate and yet substantial flavours into them. This isn't cooking for sustenance its for celebration, taking Vegetarian Cooking way past where any of the "finest" Non Veg chefs can go with their meat and fish dishes let alone the veg ones.
- Kate's starter, a little blurred - sorry!
- My starter
We both enjoyed the same main course: Curried Cauliflower & Spiced Potato with an almond garlic emulsion, kale & poached apple
- The observant amongst you will notice the change in hair style across courses!
How does it stack up Vegan wise? This is primarily a Vegetarian restaurant, therefore a lot of the menu is non Vegan but we have noticed the vegan choices grow and when Richard gave a Vegan Gourmet course earlier this year we did get a hint that he was beginning to see Vegan Gourmet cooking as the next challenge. Wishful thinking? let's hope not! ( www.demuths.co.uk www.vegetariancookeryschool.com )
And now we are back in our room and preparing for tomorrow - there will not be a post tomorrow, or even about it and there is a good reason for this. My son, Patrick, is just completing a four week cookery course at the Grange ( www.cookeryatthegrange.co.uk ) in Somerset designed to prepare students for their "gap year", working at ski resorts etc. On the final day the students prepare a lunch for their families, which is why we have travelled to Bath. In supporting Patrick I wouldn't miss it for the world but an expectation of Vegan cuisine would be misplaced therefore any report of what was on offer is censored for this blog ! Having said that a note at some time on how a Vegan can cope in these situations may be interesting.
Immediately following lunch Katie and I set of for a five hour drive on the next leg of our tour, this time to North Wales where we are attending a Druworldwide Ayurvedic Nutrition & Detox weekend in Snowdonia. It will be a wonderful way to relax, walk (rain permitting) do some yoga and learn how Ayurveda can accommodate, or even embrace, Veganism (with no ghee or yoghurt etc). (www.druworldwide.com)
I go to sleep tonight with a clear conscience for I am up to date on our VeganMoFo blog posts. Yay!
For now, goodnight, back on Saturday.
Carol
xxx
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